Another day (or evening) spent in front of a screen without protection: the result—your eyes sting, your vision is blurry, and a headache is coming on… So you finally decide to order those blue light blocking glasses that have been catching your eye (did you get the pun?) for months. But when it comes time to confirm your purchase, one question arises: can you get reimbursement for blue light glasses? If yes, what are the conditions?
It's perfect timing that you're asking, because we're here to answer all your questions. That's just how we roll at Horus X, always ready to help!
Note: this article focuses on health insurance and mutual coverage for blue light glasses in France.
Reimbursement for Blue Light Glasses Without a Prescription or Vision Correction
First info: yes, getting blue light glasses without a prescription (and therefore without vision correction) is totally possible. But note that they are at this point NEVER reimbursed, either by French social security or your health insurance. This also applies to non-prescription rest glasses.
⚠️ Basically: no correction, no prescription = no reimbursement (No palace, no palace.)
Screen protection is (for now) not a priority for social security.
Without a prescription, you can go to your optician and ask them to show you their range of non-prescription blue light glasses (so, no reimbursement).
From experience, opticians, while they do offer this type of glasses, only have a limited selection, as their expertise is mostly in corrective lenses.
Few options, so it’s not what we recommend.
Some brands specialize in blue light protection and sell their products outside the conventional optician network.
👉 You can find a much wider selection online from expert brands offering filtration rates beyond what your optician can provide. Here again, none of them offer reimbursement through social security or insurance if you don’t need corrective lenses.
Among the best blue light brands:
- Horus X: How could we not self-reference? ;) Our French team has been keeping a close eye on blue light for years, developing different types of lenses that aim to be among the most effective on the market. Want to know more? Check out the Horus X store!
- Izipizi: Another French player that has emerged in recent years and carved a niche in this market. They offer a wide range of frames, for adults and children alike. Their blue light filtration is relatively low.
- Barner: You have to cross the border to find the Spanish brand Barner, offering colorful blue light glasses.
- Gunnar: Because blue light glasses aren’t just a European thing, we have to mention our American counterpart, Gunnar Optiks, which, like Horus X, offers both an Office and a Gaming range.
Blue Light Glasses with Vision Correction
If you already have a prescription, that means you need vision correction. And in France, generally, a prescription usually means reimbursement!
Coverage by Social Security
So yes, but no—it’s not that simple when it comes to social security, because here we’re talking about blue light and screen protection.
Let us explain: French social security is nice, but not too generous.
It reimburses what it calls the 100% Health basket, as well as a small portion of corrective lenses depending on their category. But it does not reimburse the blue light treatment on lenses by default, considering it a comfort feature rather than an absolute necessity.
Too bad… Maybe over time, like the anti-reflective coating, blue light treatment on lenses will become part of the 100% health basket for screen protection.
Fortunately, social security isn’t the only option in play.
Coverage by Health Insurance
The complementary health insurance, also known as mutuelle
is designed to fill this gap. Of course, everything depends on your plan and the coverage you’ve chosen, so make sure you understand the benefits and services included, as well as the reimbursement rates. This is especially important if you have specific needs or long-term expenses to consider!
Some plans will reimburse a percentage up to a certain limit, while others offer fixed allowances for various eye care products. So it’s hard to say whether YOUR plan will cover blue light treatment or not. You’ll need to check directly with your provider—but in any case, it’s possible.
If you want to dive deeper, we’ve prepared a full guide on reimbursement for prescription glasses by health insurance. But to save you time, here’s a summary of what you need to know about mutuelle coverage for blue light glasses:
- ➡️ Depending on the guarantees in your plan, your complementary health insurance may cover all or part of your corrective lenses with blue light filter. You’ll need a valid prescription from your ophthalmologist (less than 5 years old for adults) and purchase your glasses from an authorized retailer.
- 👍 The good news is that you don’t necessarily have to buy super expensive glasses in-store. You can order online from the comfort of your couch. Just make sure to consult a professional first to know your prescription details.
- 🙌 Yes, that totally means your mutuelle can reimburse your Horus X prescription lenses! Since they are certified Class 1 medical devices by a laboratory and approved by a licensed optician, they qualify for coverage, just like regular prescription glasses. Contact your mutuelle to confirm your eligibility.
Don’t hesitate to request a quote if you’re buying your prescription blue light glasses from an optician and send it to your mutuelle to check your coverage. If buying online, you can also ask the brand directly!
You Already Have Prescription Glasses, but Without Blue Light Treatment
Last scenario: you already have a pair of prescription glasses, but they don’t have blue light protection.
There are two options.
- The first is to go to your optician and ask them to apply a surface treatment (a sort of “coating” on the lens) that filters blue light. Unfortunately, this is not reimbursed—no coverage from social security or mutuelles. Another drawback: if your lenses are a bit worn or have imperfections, your optician might not risk applying the treatment to avoid damaging the lenses.
- The second option is to buy clip-ons that attach to your existing prescription glasses, known as clip-ons. As you might expect, this option is also not reimbursed, but it is reasonably priced. The advantage is that you can choose your filtration level depending on the brand and product line.
Blue Light Lens Reimbursement: The Bottom Line
- In summary: if your glasses have no prescription, they cannot be reimbursed. Without a valid prescription, they will not be covered either. Essential conditions for reimbursement: a prescription, vision correction, and a solid health plan. Otherwise, no way.
- However, if you have a vision issue and need correction, and you have a prescription, it’s possible to get reimbursement for your blue light corrective lenses. You can request coverage for lenses designed to reduce eye strain and correct your vision.
- Keep in mind, this reimbursement will come from your mutuelle, and it depends on your plan. We recommend choosing your complementary health insurance carefully and matching coverage to your needs.
- In other cases, even if affordable options exist, you won’t be reimbursed. If you don’t need correction, opticians usually offer some frame and lens options, but we mainly recommend going with specialized blue light optics brands.
- If you already have corrective lenses and want to add blue light treatment, note that this is also not reimbursed. We suggest either blue light clip-ons, which are practical and economical, or ordering Horus X prescription lenses (which can be reimbursed!).
